Golf practising apparatus

ABSTRACT

Golf practising apparatus suitable for practising golf strokes of a low arc swing comprises a golf club having an opening through its shaft which is normal to the strike surface of the head of the club, a pair of rods extending one above the other through the opening with slight clearance between the club and the rods, and a pair of members for supporting the rods in their correct relation to the club and the desired path of the ball when the stroke is made.

United States Patent Cork [ 51 Apr. 23, 1974 GOLF PRACTISING APPARATUS David Coleman Cork, 95 Cathedral Rd., Cork, Eire, Ireland Filed: July 13, 1973 Appl. No: 378,980

Inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data July 18, 1972 Ireland 1005/72 U.S. Cl. 273/192, 273/80 R Int. Cl A631) 69/36 Field of Search 273/183, 186, 191, 192,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1925 McLaren 273/192 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 175,197 2/1922 Great Britain 273/192 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric l-I. Waters [5 7 ABSTRACT Golf practising apparatus suitable for practising golf strokes of a low arc swing comprises a golf club having an opening through its shaft which is normal to the strike surface of the head of the club, a pair of rods extending one above the other through the opening with slight clearance between the club and the rods, and a pair of members for supporting the rods in their correct relation to the club and the desired path of the ball when the stroke is made.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures GOLF PRACTISING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus suitable for use in practising low arc golf strokes, particularly suitable for practising putting strokes.

To ensure that a golf ball when struck by a golf club travels along the desired path it is necessary to ensure that the strike surface of the head of the golf club engages the ball when the surface is at right angles to the desired path of movement of the ball. If the strike surface hits the ball when the surface is at an angle other than a right angle to the desired path of movement of the ball then an incorrect stroke will have been made. The present apparatus is suitable for use in practising low arc golf strokes to ensure that the strike surface of the head of a golf club is maintained in the correct angular position with respect to the golf ball throughout the stroke and at impact with the ball.

According to the present invention apparatus suitable for use in practising low arc golf strokes comprises a golf club having an opening through the shaft normal to the strike surface of the head of the club, the opening being in the form of a slot extending along part of the length of the shaft and means for restraining the club during movement to hit a golf ball so that when the strike surface of the club engages the ball it is substantially at right angles to the desired path of the ball, said means comprising a pair of rods capable of passing through the slot with slight clearance between the rods and the slot walls and means for supporting the rods one above the other in parallel relation to the desired path of the ball.

The means for supporting the rods conveniently comprise a pair of members supported from the ground with the lower part of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball so that on striking the ball the ball can pass beneath the member, and with each member having an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and a lower opening for receiving the other rod and with the angular position of the members being adjustable relative to their supports to adjust the angle of the plane containing the rods when the rods are positioned in the openings.

Alternatively each member may have an upper opening for receiving one of the rods and a plurality of lower openings each capable of receiving the other rod, the lower openings being arranged relative to the upper opening so that the plane containing the two rods is varied as the upper opening and different ones of the lower openings are employed.

In a further embodiment each member has an upper opening for receiving one of the rods and an arcuate slot below the upper opening and means for retaining the other rod at a desired position in the slot. The arcuate slot is so arranged that with one rod in the upper opening and the other rod in different positions in the slot the angle of the plane containing the rods is adjustable.

The members may be supported on spikes which are insertable by a suitable distance into the ground. Alternatively the members may be supported on L-shaped brackets.

The apparatus can be used in either of two ways. Either the rods can be made to be a sliding fit in the slot in the golf club so that as the club is moved through a swing having a low arc by the player, the rods guide the club and ensure that it remains in the correct angular position. Alternatively the rods can be smaller than the slot so that the shaft of the club can be moved slightly sideways relative to the rods and in this case the player has to ensure that the rods do not engage with the inside surface of the slot.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevations of support members according to alternative embodiments of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a scrap view showing a means of securing a rod to a support member.

Referring to FIG. 1, a golf putter 1 has a shaft 2 and a head 3 having a strike surface 4. An opening 5 in the form of a slot extends through the shaft 2 normal to the strike surface and extends along part of the length of the shaft. A pair of rods extend one above the other in parallel relation through the slot 5. The rods are supported at their ends and a pair of support members 7 which are, when the apparatus is in use, supported from the ground on spikes 8 which penetrate into the ground. Each spike has a shoulder 9 which positions the members 7 above the surface of the ground by a distance which is greater than the diameter of a golf ball.

As an alternative to providing shoulders 9, a series of marks may be provided on the spikes to indicate the depth of permissable penetration into the ground. On each member 7 there is an upper opening 10 for receiving one end of the upper rod 6 and a plurality of lower openings 11. Each of the lower openings is capable of receiving an end portion of the lower rod 6. The lower openings 11 are arranged on the arc of a circle having its centre at the openings 10 and by selecting different ones of the lower openings to receive the rod the plane which contains the two rods 6 makes with the ground is adjustable.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative form of support 7 in which the support 7A has an upper opening 10 and one lower opening 11. The member is pivotally mounted on an L-shaped bracket 12 by means of a pivot which can be tightened by a wing nut 13. By adjusting the angle of the member 7A with respect to the bracket 12 the angle subtended by the line joining the openings 10 and 11 relative to the ground can be adjusted.

A series of marking on the support 7A indicates the angle of the support 7A with respect to the bracket 12.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 the end member 7B has an upper opening 10 and a lower arcuate slot 14. The slot is arcuate about the centre of the opening 10. The rods 6 have end portions 15 of reduced diameter and threaded as shown in FIG. 4 and to secure the rods in any of the end members the threaded end is passed through an opening or the slot in the end member and the rod is held in that position by a wing nut 16. Other forms of nut, press fit or similar device may be used for securing the rods 6 at their ends in the support members 7.

In use the apparatus is set up as shown in FIG. 1 with the rods 6 extending through the slot 5 in the golf club.

There is a slight clearance between the rods and the walls of the slot 5 in the golf club. The angle of the plane containing the two rods is chosen so that it is the same as the correct angle for holding the club in order to make a correct stroke. The members 7 are supported from the ground so that the rods are parallel to the de sired direction of movement of the golf ball (not shown) which is to be hit by the golf club. When the golf club is moved by the player through a low arc the rods 6 ensure that the strike surface 4 of the head of the club remains normal to the intended direction of movement of the ball so that at impact between the club and the ball the strike surface of the club engages the ball when the strike surface is at right angles to the intended direction of movement of the ball and this ensures that the ball travels along the intended path.

When the player has become reasonably skillful it is possible to employ rods which have a larger clearance in the slot 'in the golf club and in this way the player tries to ensure that throughout the movement of the club the rods do not engage the side walls of the slot.

I claim:

1. Apparatus suitable for use in practising low arc golf strokes comprising a golf club having an opening through the shaft normal to the strike surface of the head of the club, the opening being in the form ofa slot extending along part of the length of the shaft and means for restraining the club during movement tohit a golf ball so that when the strike surface of the club engages the ball it is substantially at right angles to the desired path of the ball, said means comprising a pair of rods capable of passing through the slot with slight clearance between the rods and the slot walls and means for supporting the rods one above the other in parallel relation to the desired path of the ball.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower part of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball, and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and a lower opening for receiving the other rod, the angular position of the members being adjustable relative to their supports to adjust the angle of the plane containing the rods when the rods are positioned in the openings.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the members are supported on L shaped brackets.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower parts of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball, and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and a plurality of lower openings each capable of receiving the other rod, the lower openings being arranged relative to the upper opening so that the plane containing the two rods is varied as the upper opening and different ones of the lower openings are employed.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the members are supported on spikes insertable by a suitable distance into the ground.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower parts of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and an arcuate slot below the upper opening and means for retaining the other rod at a desired position in the slot.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,806,133 Dated April 23, 1974 Inventor(s) Davld man It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

p 's name should read David Coleman Signed, and sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C MARSHALL DANN McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 869' 930 FORM PC4-1050 (10-69) 

1. Apparatus suitable for use in practising low arc golf strokes comprising a golf club having an opening through the shaft normal to the strike surface of the head of the club, the opening being in the form of a slot extending along part of the length of the shaft and means for restraining the club during movement to hit a golf ball so that when the strike surface of the club engages the ball it is substantially at right angles to the desired path of the ball, said means comprising a pair of rods capable of passing through the slot with slight clearance between the rods and the slot walls and means for supporting the rods one above the other in parallel relation to the desired path of the ball.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower part of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball, and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and a lower opening for receiving the other rod, the angular position of the members being adjustable relative to their supports to adjust the angle of the plane containing the rods when the rods are positioned in the openings.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the members are supported on ''''L'''' shaped brackets.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower parts of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball, and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and a plurality of lower openings each capable of receiving the other rod, the lower openings being arranged relative to the upper opening so that the plane containing the two rods is varied as the upper opening and different ones of the lower openings are employed.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the members are supported on spikes insertable by a suitable distance into the ground.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the rods comprise a pair of members supportable from the ground with the lower parts of at least one of the members spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball and wherein each member has an upper opening therethrough for receiving one of the rods and an arcuate slot below the upper opening and means for retaining the other rod at a desired position in the slot. 